Elastic support for stocking



Dec. 29, 1959 H. G. BELL 2,918,679

' ELASTIC SUPPORT FOR STOCKING Filed July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR L HENRY G-E E ATTORNEY5 Dec. 29, 1959 H. G. BELL 2,918,679

ELASTIC SUPPORT FOR STOCKING Filed July 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR'. H a NRY G E) a L L ATTORNEYS United States Patent ELASTIC SUPPORT FOR STOCKING Henry G. Bell, High Point, N.C., assignor to Adams- Millis Corporation, High Point, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Application July 5, 1957, Serial No. 669,990

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-240) This invention relates to an elastic support and the method of forming the same on various types of clothing and more particularly to an elastic support for hosiery.

I-Ieretofore, bands of elastic material have been used to support various types of clothing such as panties, hosiery and the like by either sewing the lower edge of the band of elastic material to the top edge of the article so that a substantial portion of the elastic material extends above the top of the article or by sewing the elastic band to the article around the inside of the top edge of the article.

In the first method, a substantial portion of the elastic band is exposed to view above the top of the article and may therefore distract from the appearance of the article. In an attempt to overcome the objections raised because of the unattractive appearance of the elastic band, particularly in ladies knee-high stockings, the elastic band manufacturers have started making the elastic bands in a Wide variety of fancy styles. Of course, the fancy elastic band material is much more expensive than plain elastic band material and therefore increases the cost of the article.

The other widely used method of attaching an elastic band to clothing, particularly used in the underwear field, wherein the elastic band is sewed inside the top edge of the article and hidden from view when looking at the outside of the article is also objectionable since the band may be seen when viewed from the inside of the article.

In both of the above methods, the elastic band contacts the body of the wearer and, in many cases, causes irritation and discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, neither of these methods have produced an elastic band that will always stay in proper secured position throughout the life of the article. In so many cases portions of the elastic band have soon become separated from the garment due to the breaking of the stitches securing it thereto which are under considerable stress when the article is being put on and removed by the wearer.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an improved elastic support and a method of forming the same for articles of clothing such as knee-length stockings wherein the elastic support is formed of an elastic tape or band enclosed within the upper portion of the stocking and completely hidden from view so as not to distract from the appearance of the article and insure that the elastic band will not become separated from the stocking throughout the life of the stocking.

It is another object of this invention to provide a selfsupporting top for stockings and a method of forming the same wherein an elastic band is attached to the top of the stocking in such a manner that the elastic band will be completely enclosed so that the elastic band cannot come in contact with and irritate the body or skin of the wearer and therefore will add to the comfort of the wearer.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a method of attaching an elastic tape or band to a ICQ stocking by completely enclosing said elastic band in the top of the stocking and sewing the band to the stocking by a row of zigzag stitches while under tension so that the stretchability of the elastic support is not limited by the sewing operation. With the elastic tape secured to the stocking by a row of zigzaz stitches while under tension, the top of the stocking is fixed in relation to the position of the tape when the elastic tape is stretched and When relaxed, the top of the stocking is formed in pleats evenly spaced along the tape.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure- 1 is a side elevation of a ladys sheer knee-high stocking knit with stretchable yarn and showing the elastic band support incorporated in the top thereof;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the area enclosed by the dotted line rectangle in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation similar to Figure 2 except showing the elastic band and stocking fabric in stretched position;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken. substantially along the line 44 in Figure 3 with the distance between the sewed layers of fabric being greatly exaggerated for clarity;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a ladys sheer knee-high stocking knit with a non-stretchable yarn and showing an elastic band support incorporated in the top thereof in a different manner than the elastic band shown in Figures 1 through 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation of the area enclosed by the dotted line rectangle in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an elevation similar to Figure 6 except showing the elastic band and stocking fabric in stretched position;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Figure 7 with the distance between the sewed layers of fabric being greatly exaggerated for clarity;

Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation of a portion of the top edge of the stocking, looking at the inside rear portion thereof.

Referring to Figure 1, there will be observed a ladys sheer stretchable knee-high stocking broadly indicated at S and which includes a knitted top or welt W, a leg portion L, a heel pocket H, a foot F and a toe pocket T. The stocking S may be knit of stretchable yarn or non-stretchable yarn and may be a seamless stocking knit on a circular knitting machine or a full fashioned stocking knit on a full fashioned knitting machine, the stocking illustrated being a seamless stocking knit with stretchable yarn.

The stocking S is knit in the conventional manner, starting with a first knit portion 10 of the welt W and then knitting a second portion 11, both of which are joined by the usual knitting process to form a tubular or turned welt W wherein the first portion 10 is disposed on the inside and the portion 11 is disposed on the outside of the welt W. After completion of the turned welt W, the remaining portions of the stocking are knit in the conventional manner. After the stocking S is knit the top of the stocking or welt W is made self-supporting by the addition of an elastic band or tape E (Figures 2, 3

and 4) which may be made of rubber, rubber strands or yarn covered rubber strands interwoven with any suitable yarn. There are many different types of elastic bands or tapes commercially available and any of which may be purchased in the desired width and length.

The elastic material E is incorporated in the welt W of the stocking, by first cutting the elastic material the proper length and sewing the ends together to form a 3 band of the elastic material E. The elastic band E is then placed inside the welt W of the stocking, adjacent the lower portion of the inside portion 10 and the upper portion of the turned welt is folded inwardly over the elastic band E to thus completely enclose the elastic maaterial E with the turned welt W of the stocking S.

The elastic band E is then permanently enclosed inside the overlapped welt W of the stocking S by sewing a first rowof zigzag stitches, indicated at 15, through the lower edge of the folded Welt W (Figures 2, 3 and 4) to thus form a tubular double thickness welt W with the elastic band E enclosed. inside. The row of zigzag stitches 15 is made while the band E and the fabric in the welt W of the stocking are both stretched or fully extended to substantially the position shown in Figure 3. Next, a second row of zigzag stitches, indicated at 17, is made which penetrates both sides of the folded welt W and the elastic band B. The row of stitches 17 is also made while the welt W and the elastic band E are both in stretched or fully extended position, as shown in Figure 3.

Thus, the first row of zigzag stitches 17 encloses the elastic band E within the tubular welt W and the second row of zigzag stitches 17 joins opposite sides of the tubular welt W to opposite sides of the elastic band E to permanently attach the welt W on the elastic band E. When the top of the stocking S is relaxed, it will assume substantially the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the row of zigzag stitches 17 will thus cause the fabric from which the welt W of the stocking is knit, to be pleated, puckered or gathered evenly around the elastic band B. Without the row of zigzag stitches 17 securing the band E to the welt W, the fabric of the welt W would tend to bunch up or gather unevenly or in one place on the elastic band B.

Of course, if desired, the elastic band E may be of sufficient width to extend downwardly below that shown in the drawings so that the first row of zigzag stitches 15 would penetrate and attach the welt W to the lower edge of the elastic band E. In this event, the row of zigzag stitches 17 could, if desired, be omitted since the welt W would be firmly attached to and enclose the elastic band E.

Obviously, the elastic band E may be attached in the welt W of the stocking by folding the top of the doubled welt W outwardly over the elastic band E, instead of inwardly as shown, and then sewing the welt W to the elastic band B in the same manner. Although the welt W is shown as a turned welt having a double thickness 10 and 11, it is to be understood that a single thickness welt may be knit and then folded over and sewed to the elastic band E.

The elastic support thus formed provides a neat appearing self-supporting welt for a stocking wherein the elastic band E is completely hidden from view when loo-king at the outside or inside of the stocking and the rows of zigzag stitches 15 and 17 may be made of thread of complementary or contrasting colors to provide an attractive border on the welt W of the stocking S.

Referring to Figures 5 through 9, a stocking S will be observed in the top portion of which an elastic band has been incorporated in a different manner from the manner in which the elastic band was incorporated in the stocking S shown in Figures 1 through 4. The stocking S is shown as being a ladys sheer non-stretchable knee-high stocking, including a knitted top or welt W, a leg portion L, a heel pocket H, a foot F and a toe bracket T. The stocking S may be either a seamless or full fashioned stocking and is shown and described as being a seamlessv stocking knit on a circular knitting machine.

The stocking S is knit in the conventional manner, wherein a first welt portion is knitted, followed by a second portion 11 and after which, the leading or top edge of the first portion 10 is transferred from the conventional dial hooks of the knitting machine to the cylinder needles around the inside of the stocking S except for a small section of approximately one and one half inches.

The small section of loops not transferred to the cylinder needles thus leave an opening at the lower inside juncture of the portion 10 with the portion 11 and which opening is positioned, in this case, at the rear of the stocking S. After completion of the turned Welt W, the remaining portions of the stockings are knit in the conventional manner and upon completion of the stocking, the top of the stocking or welt W is made self-supporting by incorporating an elastic band or tape E in the tubular welt W (Figures .6 through 9).

The elastic tape is incorporated in the welt W of the stocking by first cutting the elastic material the proper length, threading one end of the tape into the opening at the lower edge of the welt portion and around the tubular welt W until it may be pulled through the opening in the welt again, sewing or seaming the ends of the tape tog ther to form a band of elastic material E disposed in the tubular welt W. Thus, the elastic band E is disposed between the portions 10 and 11 of the welt W and the seam thereof is disposed above the opening at the lower edge of the portion 10.

The opening through which the elastic material E is inserted may be closed by a first row of stitches 15' made by a conventional hosiery seaming machine to secure the lower edge of the first portion 10 and the lower edge of the second portion 11 together and form a completely closed tubular welt W. The stitches 15 may, if desired, also penetrate the lower edge of the elastic band E.

If desired, opposite ends of a folded label, indicated at 20, may be secured to the inside rear portion of the hose at the same time that the row of stitches 15 is formed (Figure 9). The label 20 is of suflicient width to cover the scam in the elastic band E and will provide a cushion against the leg and prevent discomfort to the wearer which might be caused by the seam. The label is of double thickness to form a loop, the upper end of which terminates at substantially the top of the stocking S. The loop formed by the label 20 also provides a convenient place to hang the hose after laundering. The label 20 may be woven or knitted and may include the brand name, size or other information.

Next, a second row of zigzag stitches, indicated at 17, is made around the periphery of the top of the stocking S which penetrates both portions 10 and 11 of the welt W and also penetrates the medial portion of the elastic band E (Figure 8). The zigzag row of stitches 17 is made with the welt W and the elastic band E both in stretched or in fully expanded position, substantially as shown in Figure 7. When the elastic band E and the welt W are relaxed after forming the stitches 17, the portions 10 and 11 of the welt W will be evenly pleated or gathered around the top of the stocking S, as shown in Figures 6 and 9.

Thus, the first row of stitches 15 encloses the elastic band E inside of the tubular welt W and the row of zigzag stitches 17 joins opposite side portions 10 and 11 of the .tubular welt W to oppose sides of the elastic band E to permanently attach the welt W on the elastic band E. It is to be understood that the row of stitches 15 may be formed around the entire inside periphery of the welt W instead of merely around a small portion to close the opening where the elastic tape is inserted, as is shown in Figure 9.

The elastic support shown in both forms thus provides a neat appearing self-supporting welt for a. stocking wherein the elastic band is completely hidden from view when looking at the outside or the inside of the stocking and the zigzag rows of stitches may be formed with thread of complementary or contrasting colors to provide an attractive border on the welt of the stocking.

Although the elastic bands E and E are both shown attached in the top of a knit ladys sheer knee-high stocking, it is to be understood that this method of attaching the elastic band may be easily adapted to use with regular length stockings or with other 'knit or kvkoven articles, such as ladies and mens underwear or the It is thus seen that a self-supporting elastic band has been provided and a method of attaching the elastic band to an article of clothing wherein the elastic band is completely enclosed by the edge of the article and firmly attached to the elastic band while under tension so that the stretchability of the elastic band will not be restricted and the elastic band will remain in the same position relative to the fabric during the life of the fabric. Also, the elastic band will be obscured or hidden from view in the top edge of the article and thus, at no time, will the elastic band come in contact with the skin of the wearer.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

I claim:

An elastic welt for a stocking comprising a tubular pleated welt forming the top of said stocking, an elastic tape positioned inside said welt and seamed at opposite ends to form an elastic band, zigzag stitches penetrating the medial portion of said elastic band and the Welt on both sides of the elastic band to normally maintain the welt in pleated condition, said zigzag stitches completely encircling the welt, and an identifying label secured to the lower inside edge of the welt and said label being secured to the welt to overlie and cushion the seam in said elastic band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

